Hoisting hook with a pivoted closure



Sept. 1, 1953 R. G. TAYLOR, JR., ET AL HOISTING HOOK WITH A PIVOTEDCLOSURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 19, 1948 Jnvcnfiors R. 6. Tay/om/n4. B. M E/ray Roy Davis Gttomeg Sept. 1, 1953 R. G. TAYLOR, JR.. ET AL2,650,403

I HOISTING HOOK WITH A PIVOTED CLOSURE Filed Jan. .1 9, 1948Sheets-Sheet 2 33 A36 ray/013001 A. B. M f/my Roy Dal/is 3nventon(Ittorneg Sept. 1, 1953 R. G. TAYLC/DR, JR., ET AL 2,650,403

HOISTING HOOK WITH A'PIVOTED CLOSURE Filed Jan. .19, 1948 s Sheets-SheetR.G. Toy/qr, Jr. A.B.M Elroy Roy Davis I Zinmtors Sept. 1, 1953 R G.TAYLOR, JR., ET AL' 2,650,403

HOISTING HOOK WITH A PIVOTED CLOSURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 19,1948 Gttorneg Sept. 1, 1953 R. G. TAYLOR, JR.. ET AL HOISTING HOOK WITHA PIVOTED CLOSURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan.' 19, 1 948 V \MIQIinventori Q Patented Sept. 1, 1953 HOISTING HOOK WITH A PIVOTED CLOSURERaymond G. Taylor, Jr., Arthur B. Mommy, and Roy 0. Davis, Dallas, Tex.,assignors to The Guiberson Corporation, Dallas, Tex., acorporation ofDelaware i Application January 19, 1948, Serial No. 3,096

4 Claims. 1

This invention has to do with a well tool comprising a unitized blockand hook presenting new features of load distribution. The device isrigidly supported through the use of a common load-carrying frame, fromwhich swinging bails, beckets and couplings have been entirelyeliminated. This has been done in the interest of safety, and for thepurpose of shortening the device, and also toconserve operating spaceand to afford more efficient use of the short gin pole or A frame mastso commonly used in tubing operations and in shallow well work.

The device is unusually safe, and. exceptionally well guarded. It isspecially constructed and so streamlined as to be free from alldangerous projections and hazardous latching arrangements. While thereis provided a full-closure housing, it may, nevertheless, be quicklyopened to allow immediate and untrammeled reeving and looping of a cableabout the sheaves, thus promoting speed and safety and a saving oflabor.

The hook" of the tool is so designed and arranged that it is in effect acompound beam. Two arms carried by the frame of the device receive theload which is apportioned and distributed thereto 'in amounts ofpredetermined relation. Such construction presents a hook of thinnersection and less bulk than usual and one which has even greaterload-carrying capacity, despite the apparent paradox.

The advantages of this tool over earlier devices in this art will becomeapparent as this specification is developed.

Among the objects of this invention are these:

(a) A unitized block and hook, the structure of each supplying somenecessary part of the structure of the other, and the two beinginterrelated in .function.

thanconventionahdevices designed :to carry comparable loads.

(d) In a combined block and hook, the elimination of the conventionalbecket and bail; and the saving ofmater-ial, labor, weight and spaceover old styled devices.

(6) The combination of a block with a hook .insuch way as to eliminatepivoting and swinging between thesemembers, and result in a singlerigid, straight .and compact piece of equipment of greater stability.

) "The provision of acombination block and 2 hook in which all ordinaryand dangerous pro- J'ections have been eliminated, so that there are nobolts, nuts, ears, dogs, fingers, hooks, or other projections extendingbeyond the general con tour lines of the unitary device.

(9) The provision of a block in which there is a protective housingabout the sheaves and removable sheave guards so arranged and car.- riedwithin the housing as to leave only minimum cable openings into theblock, thus promoting safety and preventing th cable from jumping out ofthe housing or away from the sheaves.

(h) The provision of a combined block and hook having a common rigidframe which may be opened on one side so as to allow a cable to beloopedaround the sheaves, instead of having to thread a cable into ahole or opening about or around each sheave, as has been the custom.Thus the block may be reeved, without dismantling it, there being nobars across the bottom of the block or below the sheaves.

(2') In a block the provision of an axle for carrying the sheaves, theaxle being so arranged that it doesnot extend through the sheavehousing, yet being so constructed as to allow all of the weight carriedby such axle to be supported on such housing.

(7) The provisionof a hook which is in effect a compound beam, having aplurality of supports, rather than being an ordinary hook of cantileverdesign.

(k') The provision of a hook which is a complete mechanical closure,carrying the weight of the load on two arms or sides of the hook, ratherthan Onthe single arm of the conventional hook.

V-shaped cradle in which the load may be so carried as to distribute theweight therof to both arms in predetermined quantities.

(n) The provision of a vl-shaped cradle in ;a hook provided with a rigidarm and a movable arm, both being so arranged that when ,a load isplaced in the cradle the movable arm is kept constantly in such aposition as to maintain closure of the hook.

.(o) The provision of a hook having two arms so arranged as to cometogether to form a cradle for carrying a load, the hook being soconstructed that each arm is supported independently of the other.

(p) The provision of a hook in which there is a body extendingdownwardly and laterally to form a rigid hook, and in which there is amovable arm hung upon a finger extending into the body, such armlikewise extending downwardly and laterally to form a hook.

(q) A hook having two independently supported arms, cooperativelyconnected, and being capable of supporting greater loads on thinnersections than can be done with the conventional one-armed hook, thelatter having to be made thicker and wider and with a greater curve andof greater bulk and weight than is required of the instant device in thecarrying of any given load.

(1') The provision of a hook in which the hook body carries a part ofthe load and in which the hook link carries a part of the load, some ofthe load carried by the link being transmitted to the body of the hookthrough the use of a finger inserted therein.

(s) The provision of a hook in which the hook body carries a part of theload and in which the hook link carries a part of the load, some of theload carried'by the link being transmitted to the body of the hookthrough the use of a finger inserted therein, and some further part ofsuch load being transmitted to the body of the hook through the use of apivot connection between body and link.

(t) The provision of a hook in which the hook body carries a part of theload and in which the hook link carries a part of the load, some of theload carried by the link being transmitted to the body of the hookthrough the use of a finger inserted therein, and a further part of suchload being so protected by a guard as to prevent its 1 damage orabrasion by any articles being loaded into, carried by or released fromthe hook.

(12) In a hook with a movable link, a horizontally disposed latch forlocking the link in place, thus preventing the unlocking of the hook Iby any vertically sustained shocks arising from loads being carried bythe hook.

(w) The provision of a lateral latch for locking the movable link of thehook, the latch being carried by and operable from the non-dangerousside of the hook, i. e., the side of the hook opposite the movable link,so that no bails, arms, chains or other heavy members may be allowed tofall out upon the operator when he is unlocking the latch.

(.13) In a combined block and hook, a swivel bolt arranged therebetween,so as to allow the complete rotation of the hook, and the head of thebolt being so enlarged as to be itself employed as a locking member fordirectly locking the swivel in any desired position without thenecessity of employing an extra or third part or member between a swivelhousing and a hook housing for effecting a lock.

(y) Spring actuated plunger means for locking the hook swivel at anypredetermined place on the periphery of the head of the swivel bolt.

(2) The provision of two streamlined side plates arranged to form ahousing about a block, and being so constructed that they will 'cometogether above the sheaves in complete closure, the side plates beingrigidly locked against side thrust by the use of tongued and groovedconnections therebetween, and being further united by having a hookrigidly mounted between the lower ends of these plates.

The several advantages of this invention may be incorporated into toolshaving various sizes, shapes and appearances and employing variants inmechanical construction, because the invention herein is not limited toone particular form.

On the other hand, it may be freely practiced in many forms.

In order to best present a suitable form of device employing the essenceof this invention,. there is provided a series of drawings, in which:

Fig. I is a perspective view of a typical unitized'v block and hook.

Fig. II is an exploded view in perspective of the device shown in Fig.I, in which the housing is opened, the guards removed, and the hookdropped from one side of the frame.

Fig. III is a partially sectionalized elevation of a typical rigid blockand hook, with part of the casing cut away.

Fig. IV is a plan view of the tool shown in Fig. III, when seen fromabove, with some of the casing cut away.

Fig. V is a cross-sectional elevation taken through the cap of thehousing, showing parts of the load-carrying frame therein.

VI is a sectionalized elevation of a typical hook in compound beamposition.

Fig. VII is a strictly schematic diagram intended to indicate thelocations of load thrust in this tool.

Fig. VIII is an exploded view in perspective of the swivel collar andits immediately related mechanism.

Fig IX is a sectionalized View of the swivel locking plunger whenengaged.

Fig. X is another sectionalized view of the swivel locking plunger whenengaged, with the dotted lines showing position when disengaged.

In the drawings the various parts of this device are represented bynumerals, and the numeral l indicates a housing, made of twocomplementary parts, or halves, la and lb. One function of this housingis to cover and protect the sheaves 40, of which there may be several(as desired). It is also intended as a guard to prevent injury toworkmen and operators. However, it has another and quite importantfunction.

There are built into the housing certain structural members which are animportant part of the load-carrying frame of the entire tool. The chiefmembers of this frame are the posts 22, which may not be seen when thecasing of the block is closed. These posts are arranged on the innerfaces of the housing I, so as to reoeive and support the axle 21, whichcarries the sheaves 4B. The load-carrying skeleton of this device, likethat of a turtle, is in its shell.

Posts 22 are made somewhat wider than the diameter of the axle, and theyextend upwardly above the axle a short distance. However, each post 22extends downwardly the full length of the housing, and continues beyondto form the series of smaller posts 2.

2,35 OJEOS .Posts :2 may :be rigidly (but :removably) attached :to therigidcollar will (itself a part or :the frame) through the use of dogs6.'5 aon.:such collar. These dogs :are also plural :in :number on eachrside of "the collar, :and they 31118 arranged to fit :nicely:intoopenings between' the posts 3!, so that .oneconnnon bolt l 29,:known asrthe frame :holt, imay lzause the :housing :and :itsinner-drama and the exposed posts to be made up into .fiXBd andrigideconnection with the collar 16.0.

.AISO'JIIII continuous rigidemaheup'withrthermembers mentionedimmediately :next above, there is the :special fhook 1 D0, "which :ishung lblQW the collar 26.0 on the strong spindle lrbolt -9.9.ThisIhoolcimaymotate,*butiit maystnot swing. The result is that the"entire *un'itary device, from its extra strong :cap .5 down to "andthrough its unusually =designed ".fhook rillll), is a zcompletelyintegrated structure presenting :a straight rand compact tool of greatstability.

.-In thus making ea gunitizediblock andxhook in-.toron'eroompletelyzintegrated toolit is to .be -10bserved ithat the:result is ":a :much :shorter :dev-ice than "the :usual old .iiashionedand :loosely connected "assemblage made .up .of separate block, becket,.bail and :conventional hook.

:In our device the rhook and :block are made into one completenstructure vin which (certain parts :necessary ;in the LblOCk are:furnished by the shock and :in -which certain parts necessary in thechock are :furnished ;by the block.

It :"is important to observe .that all aforms riof pivots :and .pivotingusually employed :between a conventional block and .a "conventional hookhave.rbeen.eliniinat,ed,;and "especially is it important to rememberthat the .ordinary becket (usuallyfound ebelow a.:conv.entional block)and the ordinary bail (usually :foundabove the con- .venti-onal shook).are Eboth eliminated :because they are xaltogethernseless in the.device :employing our invention.

The :designand: construction :arrdrarrangement of this device completely:prevents the usual and highly undesirable :pivoting and swinging :andswaying .and general uncertainty found in the loosely coupled :andnon-integrated .block and hook used in the past. These oldfashioneddevices have resulted zin'the crippling ofmany men and :thedamaging aof *much material-and thei'loss of imuch property. They :areunpredictable in their movements, especially when suddenly Tree'd ofloads. Their .very :looseness 'favors the acc'idental .loss of loadsbeing carried :onthe hook; and, even svhen latched, the swinging hook:allows lloadsrtorhethrown onithezlatch and open it. Theseaold devicesare particularly dangerous.

.Heretofore, some forms of blocks :have been made upof'aseries of flatplates of steel. Plates were .usually placed outside of and between eachpulley or sheave, so that with several sheaves in ablocko'f thatcharacter there was formed a rather bulky assortment *of rectangularplates arranged in spaced relation. A loose swing'ing becketiwas usually.put :belowithese plates and attached -totwo or more of them. The loosebail of the hook was introduced through the becket and a conventionalone-armed hook was suspended therebelow. The loosely hung parts of suchcontrivance .represented nothing more nearly than the links in anuncertain chain, :any one :of'twhich .couldget out oflineinstantly, andusually didso.

Now, when ggreat :loads were thrown on one side of such :a serpentine-contri-vance (even momentarily) they usually "caused "a shifting in:the plates. There was lateral thrust, ".accented .:byl1leverage. ".Thisresulted :in a "shearing stress ".upon :the axle :carrying the pulleys.'It alsotresultedin shearing stress falling upon every bolt and rivetand ;pin that 'heldthe: device together. 'II here was i'frequently nostraight or regular "up and down wpull. -On the other :hand, there was:a .lateral or deflecting force :felt throughout the block, andespecially the :plates thereof. They would shift and get "loose.

All such troubles :have beeneliminated :in our rigid unitary .devicewhich :has been provided with :an extra-strong internal 'frame arrangedinan unusuallyinarrow casing. To make rigidity and stability morecertain and prevent internal stress we have provided machined andmatched tongue-andegroove surfaces between the two sides la and lb ofthe housing I. This tongueandegroovearrangem'ent may be disposedwherever convenient between the two :members. It has been shown in'thedrawingsherein as tongue 4'! and groove 48; and these members may welltake the .form .of an arc :.or curve passing entirely across .faceplates 50 of the reinforced cap 5.of thethousing. This stabilizes thehousing andsprevents any lateral movements betweenathe two halvesthereof. :There is .no shearing move- .ment or lateralthrust within .ourhousing.

Further reinforcement may be added .170 the members of the housing I asdesired; .andwthe plates 50 therein may be made .to extend D1113- wardlyto end in the dogs 16. These dogs should have faces which will meetperfectly .so that the bolts 7 may be passed through the dogsiandhold'securely together and .inrperfect alignment the two halves of thehousing. .AlSOxI'lbSfil may be :m-ade to :run transversely across theicap :5 for further reinforcing.

Still more firmly and rigidly will the housing be held together when thecollar .60 .is fitted .bB- tween the halves of thehousing and bolted up(with frame bolts 20).

Transverse ribs :5! may be provided with cone or 'more notches 8, inwhich may be inserted teeth ilil -:'of=the sheave :guard :59, :in order:toikeep the guard .members in perfect alignment with one another andwith the housing.

The sheave guards 9 :are two in rnumber,..and they meet together at thevery base of :the housing vI so as :to efiect complete closure not suchhousing and to protectively cover and tencase the lower part of thesheaves 40.

"The guard *9 continues upwardly and curves about the contour of housingI Ito apresentca plurality of fingers, of which the outside guard raill-0 is one :and the inside guard rail l3 may =be:one.

Ball 1 3 may 'be providedwith reinforcing rib 13-11, if :desired.

ilhe :outside zrailssare provided with flange 12 which :not onlyistrengthens the :guard, but :also helps :to seal the ihousing and :keepthe ..:guard in perfect fit between the side walls of the housing.

.Ga-b'le zopenings 1'4 z-are unade between the .rails of the iguard; andthese openings are lkept to minimum size, being only sufficient :toallow :the 'cable .ito apass 'ttheretln'ough with satisfactoryclearance.

Illransverselyacrosstthe lower :partrof the :guard 9 there may beprovided a solid reinforcing boss i318, drilled :with hole I11 toreceive the guard bolt I15.

.Tohlosethe housing,:the guard 9 .ismoved linto fitting :position oversheaves "40 and within the side walls of the housing until teeth H comewithin the notches 8 and the holes I! are lined up with the holes 19,the latter being provided in the recess I8 of the flange in the housingI. The assembly, thus positioned, is held firmly together by the use ofbolt and its nut l6. Through this construction it will be seen thatthere has been effected as complete a closure of the housing over thesheaves as is possible. It is impossible for any tools or machinery, orthe workmens hands or fingers to get caught by the sheaves or the cableon either of the flat sides of the block member or the undersidethereof. The only openings in the block are in the upper end of theguard, where there are provided the slots I4. With the block suspendedabove the work, these openings are up out of ordinary operation rangeand reach of a workman engaged in attaching parts or tools or chains tothe hook Hi0, and releasing them therefrom. Safety is an importantelement of this tool.

It may be desired that this tool be dead-lined to some fixed object,rather than be attached to the top of a mast or pole or derrick.Therefore, the eyelet 4 has been provided through the heavy and stronglyreinforced cap 5 of the housing; and above the eyelet 4 there isarranged the ring member 49, so that a rope or cable passed through thiseyelet can be used for safe anchorage, the ring being quite sufficientin strength for this purpose.

The axle 21, on which are mounted the sheaves 40, contrary to usualpractice, does not extend through the Walls of the housing. There arenot any dangerous projections, such as bolts and. nuts, on the outsideof the housing. Such projections might injure a workman or cause thefouling of lines, cables and chains. These very common but objectionablefeatures have been eliminated in our tool.

There have been provided within the frame members 22 a pair of recessesor cups 23 to receive the ends of the axle 21; and the axle has beenreduced in diameter at each end until it assumes the form of diminishedends 29, which are made to fit into the recesses 23.

There have been provided axle shoulders 28, at the points where the axleis reduced in size; and such shoulders rest against the inner faces ofposts 22.

Holes are made through a thin section of the housing I so that they willline up with holes 33 which are provided for a certain limited distanceinto the ends of the axle 21; and these holes are made to receive axlescrews 25. Usually it is advisable to use two or more such screws oneach end of the axle. When these screws are made up, we find that theaxle is securely set and held in the cups 23; yet the heads of machinescrews 25 are within the outer contour of the housing I by being placedwithin a recess 24 arranged on the outer face of each wall of thehousing. This recess also protects the greasefitting 2B, which isusually arranged to pass into the center of each end of the axle 21 tofacilitate the fillin of reservoir 3! with lubricants. A cross channel32 will allow lubricants from the reservoir to pass outwardly to theperiphery of the axle and there lubricate the bearing surfaces.

There should be arranged about the axle, and within the hub 43 of thesheaves 40, some suitable bearing; and such a bearing may take any oneof many forms. In the form indicated in the drawings the bearing is aroller bearing 35, of which the rollers are shown as at 36 and thehousing as at 31.

The sheaves themselves may be almost any pulley having flanges as at 4|and a groove as at 42. A strong yet lightweight sheave may be made to.possess ribs 44 on spokes 45 and have spaces 46 cut out between thesespokes, if this is desired.

However, most any conventional sheave or pulley may be used in thistool; and one alone may be mounted therein, or two may be used, orseveral may be used, as the needs and requirements of the job maydictate. Where additional sheaves are added the body of the housing andrelated gear must be made sufliciently wide to receive them; andappropriate guard members with suitable openings l4 between the railsthereof must be provided. Otherwise, the multi-sheave device will beconstructed as generally indicated herein.

It is not at all desired that this tool be allowed to swing or break inthe middle (as a link in a chain) for the reason that such breaking isdangerous and unsatisfactory and always results r in low efiiciency inthat it prevents the placecollar 60, which is a part of the rigidframework between the housing I and the hook lllll. The hook may beallowed to rotate in this collar Whenever desired; and it also may befixed and locked at most any position desired around the circle of itsrotation, all as will be made more plain hereinafter.

Swivel collar is an important element of the structure of this device;and it has several functions. It is a part of the rigid frame of thetool, holding the block member above it and the hook member below it,and keeping them fixedly in line.

Collar 60 is also a part of the base of the block member. It is fittedfirmly and exactly into the spaces between the posts 2, across thebottom of housing, so as to hold together the side members la and lb andto give strength to the entire block structure. Bolt holes 3 in posts 2and bolt holes 66 in dogs are put into alignment to receive the framebolts 20, which pass therethrough and are held therein by the use ofnuts 2|. The removal of one such frame bolt will allow the collar todrop downwardly, hinged on the other frame bolt. This will open thebottom of the block housing (guards 9 being removed).

Collar 66 has a continuous circular wall 62 therearound, and is providedwith the major vertical opening 6| therethrough. The lower part of thisopening is so reduced in diameter as to furnish supporting shoulder 63in the lower part of wall 62 of the swivel collar.

On supporting shoulder 63 there should be arranged a suitable bearing,as at 81. The one illustrated is a roller bearing, in which 88 indicatesthe housing and 89 the rollers.

Ball bearings may be used, or any other suitable bearing may beemployed. A slight recess 64 may be made within vertical opening 6|(just above shoulder 63) to receive bearing 87. This recess is notnecessary, but it may be used.

The heavy spindle bolt90-has1a large head 91. anda. shank: 93, thelatter being providedwith threads 94. The head of this spindle boltcomes torest' on. top of:b'earing: 81 and the shank continues.downwardly through. the bearing housing. and extends. below the-lowerface of swivel collar 60, where-itis threaded into hole I02 arranged inthe uppermost part. of: the: body of: hook: unit I00, the hole havingthreads I03? therein forthis purpose.

To firmly fix spindlebolt 90. into thebody of. hook I011. (after it.has-been tightly madeup. with the threaded connection indicated), thehole I04 may 'be provided through the wall of. the: body ofthe hook.and. into the shank 93 of: the spindle bolt; and set screw I05 is: thenmade. up into this hole to prevent the bolt from turning in. the hook.

With the construction indicatediit willsbe seen. that hook I'Ofl, firmlyattached tospindle boltfill, is wellsupported in' the frameworkoficollar member. 60. Thehook. may. not. swing or buckle or.

break laterally or deviate. from the straight'center line running.throughthe' entire tool, which is always maintained inazfixedzalignment. of its:

rigidly structural members;

However, from the construction indicated; it. is

clear that. therhook member lfiflwill rotate freely It. may be operatedin such a in: the: collar 60: manner that it will: rotatev in response"to the weight or. tension: 011 any load. being carried. on theihooka.This. will allow strains; kinks, twister torque and thrust. within: theload being. carriedi (pipe,.tubing; rods, chains,.. cables or any other:

load) to adjust themselves and find compensa tion theiree rotation of:the hooln. Frequently this. is; an important; consideration;

.011: numerous. ICcISl0llS,. and: sometimes continuously; it? isdesirable-andievennecessary that; the; hook be fixed: and? incapable ofrotation. Therefore; at lore-kings. device is provided? for thispurpose;

In the past:practicersomeform of extra structure usually has beenintroduced to hold together the. housing :of ablockian'd the housing. ofa hook (they being separate and non-integrated units, loosely:assembled). Thus, a thirdand.additional membera'was. used: to makeconnection betweenthe two housings: of theseseparate units. Such astructure" is not. very: satisfactory as a means for braking or lockinthe hook in" nonarotating" position. There is too much space requiredfor the-extramember; and it addssomewhat to the length oritthe assembly,and becauseof this-length there is some undesirable leverage given tothrusts arisingfrom-normal impulses toward d'eflection or rotation.'I'he result ot which is that a: rather bulk-y memberwas usuallyrequired to spanthe" considerable distance between" blackand hook andkeep them in a position of approximate non-rotation.

In our construction it" will be observed that we add-no member betweenhousings. In fact; we

add nomember whatsoever to belock-ed? We simply drill some holes 9-2 intheperipheral side" walls of the:head 9 i of the spindle bolt 91]; Thispermits us to lock thisspindle bolt firmly; exactly andifixedly atwhatever place we desire, so that it. cannot rotate:

We. may lock the. hook. in placeb'ytheuse-of lid desired. They may beput in each one-eighth" part ofth'ecircumierenoe:ofthe head, or in eachone-sixteeth, or' at. any other spacing, found: suitable.

In order: to make: simple" the locking of' the spindle bolt 9E andprevent therotation of the hook IM a-springi-loaded' plunger 'i-i may bearranged to be carried within a protective plunger guards 8 7 oflthesideof the collar 63.

plunger: hole: lei isi made through the side wall of swivel. collar: 66to receive plunger i1, and especially. the. reducedplunger head '18. Thehole ft should bersubstantially the. same size as the holes" 92..

A plunger keeper 58 may be inserted within recess: l t, arrangedz abouthole 15, in the outer wall of collarfltil. couple. of. holes 731 may bemade at the bottom oiithis recess to line up with holes: his in. thekeeper; and screw 12 may be made up in each. two ortheseholes inalignment, untilv the keeper: is. firmly fixed into the wall of thecollar.

The-outer face ofzkeeper til should be provided with ai relatively deeptransverse locking groove 5 69, and a relatively shallow non-engagementgroove 10. A. plunger passage 16 is provided through the keeper*6'8*,ltoline up. with the plunger passage in the wall of. the collar.

There is provided. asprin well 19 within the body or. the plunger 11;and this well continues as an opening through the. plunger key 88- andthe plunger handle 81. In this well is. carried compression spring3Z';.whic'h iskept in place by spring. keeper. 83,. held securely byscrews 86,

i which. pass throughscrew holes 84 and make up into: screw holes" 85in. the: collar.

The handlezflzli of the plunger maybe provided with notches 99'whichwillreceive any small tool, such. as. a screwdriver, the handle ofpliers or a chisel, or apiece of. small pipe. By using such a tool andforcing it downwardly in one of the notches 9.9, the plunger handle canbe rotated slightly. There-are: only two positions which it may'ta-ke.It maybe in a position-in which the key 80 is in looking: groove 69;.01'it may be forced' into the other'position withthe key in thenonengagement groove 10;.

Because of the. difierences in the depth of the grooves fifiiandlfli'itwillbefoundthat when the" key is in groove 70 the plunger head 18doesnot enter hole H ll in. the head of the. spindle bolt. When the.plunger: i in this position of nonengagement, the: spindle bolt mayrotate freely along withthe'hook. suspended on it.

Howevenwhen the plunger is placedin a posi- J tion of engagement. byhaving the key down inthe: deeper groove 6910f the. keeper, then thehead 18 of the plunger is firmly driven into one of the-holes. 92in thehead: of the spindle bolt, so as toslock." the "latter and: prevent itsrotation.

Thevlo'ckingi'device just described is only one of several which may beused. for the same purpose; However; this one is very effective, safe,simpleandi dependable. Itis easily mounted on theside: of collar. and itis so protected that it will always work. It is obvious thatdiflerentforms: ofl'ocking devices may. be made with the sames'goodoperatingresults; .andlwith safety and dependability.

A matterrof: great import'ance in this invention is the design;construction. and arrangement of the unit known asthehook, and indicatedas at I00. Thisis no ordinary hook. In fact, it may lie-more fairton-say that it is not. a hook at all; If we. consider-whack strictlytobe: a: canin lever device, then this is not a hook for it does notanswer such a definition. The old form, of cantilever design, was calleda hook, and properly so. Anything taking the place of it, however muchimproved, will probably continue to be called a hook in all industrialfields where such devices are used. Therefore, the element I60, in thistool, is herein called a hook solely for conventions sake.Notwithstanding the nomenclature involved, our so-called hook is ineffect a compound beam, having support in several places.

The head of the hook body is indicated as at I2 I and through this partof the body the spindle bolt 96 is inserted, fixed and carried. Thelarge stock of the head of the body of the hook extends outwardly onboth sides of the spindle bolt 96. Its shortest extension forms thelaterally disposed fixed arm I22.

The longest arm of the hook is shown as at II) I. It is a fixed memberextending downwardly from the head I2I and ending in the transversemember which carries the link pin H6.

The third and only remaining arm of this hook is shown as at H2, and itis sometimes referred to as the link. It is the only movable arm of thehook. When the hook is carrying a load the arm H2 is hung into the shortarm I22 through the use of finger I I6, which is made a part of themember H2 and allowed to enter the recess I26 in the head of the hook insuch manner as to cause the head to support a considerable part of theweight being carried by the arm H2, all as will be more fully explainedhereinafter.

A better understanding of the details of construction of the hook memberI90 may be had by referring to Fig. VI, in which it will be seen thatthe fixed arm IUI not only extends downwardly (from the head I2I of thehook), but it also continues as a downwardly and laterally inclined legH16, which forms one-half of a V-seat in which the load rests.

Beyond member I06 the arm I6I then continues to form the upwardlyinclined leg IN, the extreme end of which is provided with hole I09therethrough to receive link pin III].

A wide groove i06 bisects the members I66 and IN, so as to receivetherein the downwardly inclined leg H3 of link II2, which leg is soarranged as to form one side of the load-receiving V-seat.

Thus, it will be seen that the bifurcated arm IIH receives the lower endof movable arm H2 in the groove or recess H18, and that the link I I2 isso pivoted as to move in such groove. Pivot pin I I is common to bothsides of the bifurcated member I67 and also to the lower part of thebody of link I I2, and may be kept in place by the use of set screw I II.

The innermost end of leg II3 (of link member I I2) terminates in the toeI I4. This toe may be locked down in such manner as to prevent themovement of the member I I2 about the pivot I II]. We have indicated asuitable lock I3I, which terminates in a latch lip I35; and this lipfalls over the toe IM to lock the link in a position of closure forcarrying a load.

An important regulating member H5 is arranged between the toe end (I I4)of movable link I I2, and the transverse base I24 of fixed arm IOI. Thisdevice is a so-called seat for regulating and distributing loadthroughout the several loadcarrying members of the hook generally.

As indicated in the drawings, one usable form (among several) of theseat member I25 is a screw pin fitted into a threaded hole I26 providedthrough the base member I24. This form of regulating seat I25 may bescrewed up through the hole I26 until its upper face comes in contactwith the seat H5 of'the link itself. Such adjustment is to be made onlywhen the link I I2 is in full load-carrying position, and while a partof this load may be carried upon the finger I I6.

It is important to know that there is a very definite relation betweenthe load-carrying member H6 and the adjustable seat I25, which is a,load-distributing member.

The adjustable seat I25 should be so arranged and adjusted that it willreceive, sustain and carry a certain predetermined amount of the loadresting within the V-seat of the hook. (The V-seat is defined by theangles of inclination of the. members I06 and H3, when the hook is inload-carrying formation.) Then the adjustable seat may be welded inplace by the use of welding I27. Of course, it may be pinned in place.But in any event, once the adjustment for load distribution inpredetermined measure or percentage is made, the member I25 should bekept at the desired adjustment. For this purpose suitable fixing meansshould be employed, whether it be welding or pins or other.

The finger I I6 may be inserted in hole II'I made through the free end,or upper end, of link H2. The use of a hole, for adjustably locatingfinger H6 within link H2, so as to determine the measure of extensiontherebeyond, is simply a convenient means to facilitate the adjustmentto the desired degree of extension; but it is a very satisfactory one.Other means may be used.

Such arrangement as is thus indicated obviously must not preclude thethought and. fact that finger I I6 may be made originally as an integralpart of the free end of link H2; and then such adjustment as isrequired, in the measure of extension of such finger from the member H2,may be arrived at by machining or otherwise cutting down the exposed endof the finger.

It is important, however, to realize that this finger member should bemade the subject of suitable regulation, so that the final arrangementis such that finger H6 will carry and distribute a certain amount of theload (originally laid upon link II2) to the short fixed arm I22,extending from the head I2I of the body of hook I00.

When hole H1 is used as a method of adjusting finger II6, then, wheneverthe finger is in exactly the right position for load distribution, a bitof welding, as at II8, may be used to permanently unite the finger andthe link. (Again a set screw or other pin or means could be used forkeeping the finger in permanent location.)

The walls of the hole I20, in the head of the hook, are thereforearranged to carry a considerable amount of the load originally laid uponthe link II2. It is to be noted that this hole is nearer to the centerline of the hook assembly than is the link pin IIIJ. It is further to benoted that when a weight is laid upon leg II3 it will cause the latterto move downwardly and will also cause the long arm of link II2 to moveupwardly and inwardly, in the progress of partial rotation of thesemembers about the link pin III). Whereupon, the finger enters the holein the head.

As a result of the movement of the link I I2 about pin I III (when thehook is loaded) there is the distribution of some of the load from linkantenna 13 II2 to the head I21, and afurther distribution of some ofsuch load: to. thebase I241.

While the adjustableseat' Ia25E=may bel -well: employed in the form inwhich. it is disclosed in the drawings, itshould be obvious thatthe sameresults maybe. had withv a different construc; tion.

For instance, a verticlei hole couldsbe made through the leg I.I3. near.the toe H41: thereof; Through this hole a pin, comparable to the, mem.-.ber I25, could: be inserted. andforced downwardly, using threads, untilit: comes to rest firmly on the upper face of base I24. The result wouldbe exactly the sameiaswiththe' form indicated in. the dawings; Eitherform of construction may be employedsto carry out .theprinciple andeifectat-he objects...herein disclosed.

Likewise, it should be. obvious that a. slight elevation maybe made as.an integral part ofthe base I24, the elevation totake theeform'.and conetour. of. the exposed part of pin I 2.5; ornot, as desired. Requiredadjustment could. then be made. by having. the. extension: machined, or.otherwise reduced, until it received exactly the amount of load, or. thepercentage of load, desired;

Likewise, a projection: may be-made as an integral part of seat I 15 to.form. adownward ex tension, until. such projection comesinto contactwith the upper face of; I24"; Adjustment could be made by machining orfiling or-otherwise reducing theextentyo-f the projection unti1:the.load distribution requiredwas arrived at. Whenneeded, weldingcould be used to build up any adjusting member found deficient.

In any event, it is proper to remember that there. is...an adjustableload-distributing member. arranged betwcenthe seat IIS and the base I24.

Because, it isimportant that. the surface of the finger smooth, andkeptthat way, it is desirable that there shallbe. provided a guard Il9=about the extended finger;

A simple way. to provide this guard is to allow: a thin section of eachouter wall of both sides. of the upper endof link II2 to be continuedin:

the region ofvthefinger I I6, to formzthewalls II9 of a troughinwhichthe. finger is located;

It is recommended alsothat the-hole I 20 bemade perfectly true andaccurate and smoothly finished. The fingenl Iii-should fitintothehole I20:. and against. the. walls. thereof with perfect nicety. So thatthisfitting will;be gradual and perfect, and exact, it is recommended that.the end of the-finger. II6;be tap.ered,. and that the wall, of therecess I 20,-; be, correspondingly: inclined. Thus the fingermaybedriven intothe recess I20 so that it will completely impinge theside walls of such recess. Then. the weight carried on the finger willbe transferred to these walls. Literally, the link, II2 is v hung intothe body of the hook.

A load thrown into the V-seat ofthe hook will close the, structure.Nevertheless, it isdesirable that some form of lock be, placed upon thishook so that, when once it is closed and in load-carrying position, itcannot become unlocked accidentally.

It is considered important that the lockbe put upon the safe side of thehook. The safe side is the side which--does not-open.- It is the side ofthe fixed arm I01. the lmovable arm I I2 (located-on the -dangerous.side of the hook I.I6. be properly. machined and made- It is oppositefrom Suppose a load were being carried; on this hook, and furthersuppose thattheload were setdown. suddenly. Then the: part: of theloadibeing car:- ried through the opening: of: thexhookmay fly upawardly and outwardly against thelinlc II2; t'enda ing to force it open.

If: the operator is' on the dangerous sideof the hook, he maybe severelyinjured;uor even: killed, by the falling materialsor. machinery whichcomestumbling out of. i the. accidentally openedi hook.

Such accidents and losses are provided against by: incorporating in ourhook an. automatic dock, which is'arranged on the safe side.

To install look I 3|. there. should be arrangeda protected operatingrecess. I30, in the backside of the arm IOI. This recessshouldcontinueinto a. hole I40; extending horizontally through=member. I011.

Latch body I 34v (which welli may take the form of 1 a. cylindrical orcartridge-like member) .isial lowedito extendibeyond the innerfacelofmemben IOI to provide an overhanging lip I35havihga roundedtop.

Through both sidewalls of the tubular mem berv I34. there shouldibearranged a long horizontal slot. I38; Through this slot shouldbeprovidedpin I39.-to.extend .entirely'through the -mov able member I34, andbe fixed in-each wall of the arm IOI.

The hollow member; I34 afiords-a spring well I36; and in thiswell isarranged compression spring I31. The spring is -disposedbetween-thecross pin I39 and the solid'head of the member' I34, which solid. headis on; the end: bearing the lip I35. A'handle. I 32.:is=.fixed to thelatchbody I34, through the use of latch pin I33.

The lockingxdevice detailed immediately'above allows the handle I32: tobe" pulled outwardly from the recess I30iin such manner. as to entirelywithdraw the lip I32? Withinthe body of the arm IOI. Thenthe lock isinoperative; and the arm II2. isunlocked, and the free ends of it maybelowered l outwardly and downwardly to receive -a= load.

When.a load fallsuponleg II3',=. then-the= =toe' I,I4.ais instantlysnappeddownwardly and underthe overhanging lip 1 I 35' of 'the latch I31There-- aftencand until manually released; the hook-is closed. andlocked; andit cannot be opened'by accident.

elongation on the hookby reason of 1 greatweig-hts being carried thereonor becauseofsudden shifts:

ofxsuch weights.

The position of i the foolproof lock whichlwe have. presented; onthe:safe side of the hook, istobe contrasted with certain latches-whichhave been put upon ,theunsafe side of a-hook, Where there. is some formof moving link or closing member. The dangerous pins or latches here---tofore used have been found on the side of 'the--= movable closingmember, where tonsof machi-nery maycome tumbling down-upon a workmanand.kill him, if 'he undertakes to open the latch The safe and dependablelock disclosed-byyus; herein is further free from being opened" ac--cidentally because the handle I32 thereof'is kept. safely within therecess" I30-by the spring 131;

while the lock is engaged. The handle I32 does not. extend beyond theouter contour of the body. This is important. No rope, cable, clothingor anything else may catch upon the protected lock handle; and thereforeaccidental opening of the lock from such causes is entirely eliminated.

Much testing and accurate engineering have gone into the making of thishook of plural members carrying loads. An object of great importance inthis invention is predetermined load distribution. The severalload-carrying members of this hook are so designed and operated as toshare in the load being carried; and the extent of such sharing isdetermined by the proper use of the hanging finger I I6 and theadjusting bridge I25, or their equivalents.

Fixed arm I0! is not a cantilevered device. It is one side of a loadedbeam. The member I I2 is the other side of that beam. The loads on bothmembers I01 and H2 are hung upon and ultimately carried by the head I2!of the hook. Distribution of the load between the movable arm I I2 andthe fixed arm ifll is effected by the proper use of suitable means ofadjustment, including the bridge between leg l3 and base I24.

The result of such design, arrangement and construction is to minimizethe thrust of the load on link pin H0 and to make possible a reductionin the cross-sectional area of each of the load-carrying membersthemselves.

To put it very succinctly: our hook can carry more weight than anydevice heretofore known to us as having a single conventional hook ofcross-sectional area equal to that of our arm [ii i. This is so for thesimple reason that the full load carried by our hook is not supported bythe single arm lfll alone. Much of it is carried by the arm HZ. All ofit is carried by the head of the hook; and such head is loaded on twoopposed sides thereof; against the head is impossible.

It must be made plain that the load carried by movable arm H2 is socarried from the very beginning of the loading of the hook. To put itanother way: this device in no wise depends upon the distortion,elongation or deformation of any of its members, in order to transmitsome of an overload from one member to another member which theretoforecarried no load. It would be a very sorry procedure, indeed, to tortureone member, by overloading, until it yielded sufficiently to allow someof the load carried by it to slip to another member which had beencarrying no load at all. It is of the very essence of poor design torequire the setting up of internal stresses in some one member, in orderto cause some other member to function. Yet, that is exactly what hasbeen done in certain earlier hooks. The understanding of this fact isnecessary to fully appreciate the design of our hook.

In order that the principle incorporated in the design of our hook maybe more easily understood, clearly grasped and graphically illustrated,we have provided a strictly diagrammatic representation of thisprinciple, in our Fig. V'II.

In the schematic arrangement of Fig. VII, A represents the fixed arm ofthe hook, L represents the movable arm of the hook, F represents theload-carrying finger and S represents the adjustable bridge member undercompression, which may be thought of as a Seat common to members A andL. W represents the weight or load carried.

The small arrows in the diagram show the locations of the load thrust inthis tool. For

and side thrust and leverage i6 instance, in the area e there is adownward thrust from the finger, counted by the resistance of the bodyor head of the hook.

In the areas a. and b, there is lateral and downward thrust, against themembers A and L respectively; and there is corresponding resistance inthese members.

Likewise, there is downward thrust in the area 0, because of the loadshifted through the seat or bridge.

There is also a side thrust in the area d, toward the link carrying pin,in which there is resistance.

This diagram not only discloses the locations of thrust in the tool, butshould make very plain the fact of the distribution of load throughoutthe tool; and it should also make clear that load distribution can beeffected by adjusting the members known as the finger and the seat (orbridge), and especially the latter.

We have presented a very safe block and hook tool of short compass,having a continuous and inflexible frame, a streamlined andprojectionfree body, an easily opened and freely reeved housing, arotatable yet easily fixed hook, the latter being provided with pluralload-carrying members, adjusting means for distributing load betweensuch members in predetermined measure, and an accident-proof lock,arranged on the safe side of the body.

We claim:

1. In load-supporting oil field hook equipment, a hook head; an armrigidly depending from such head, such arm having a downwardly andlaterally disposed leg which is further extended upwardly and laterally,said leg being bifurcated; a movable link having a downwardly andlaterally disposed extension passing into the recess of saidbifurcation; a pin carried in the outer end of the bifurcated leg,whereby the link is pivotally mounted; a frusto-conical finger extendinglaterally from the upper end of the link; a frusto-conical recessarranged in the head to receive the finger; a latch arranged within thearm and provided with a lip extendable into the recess of thebifurcation, whereby the said extension of the link may be releasablysecured within such recess; and an adjustable bridge carried in the baseof the rigid arm, whereby the said extension of the link may besupportably engaged.

2. In oil field hook equipment, a hook head; a substantially verticallydisposed hook arm rigidly depending from said head; a bifurcated lateralextension from said arm, extending first downwardly and then upwardly; alink member pivotally mounted within the bifurcation, such member havinga laterally inclined leg provided with an upper face, such face beingabove and substantially parallel to the upper face of the said upwardextension of the arm when the link is closed, and the downward extensionof the arm and the inclined leg together forming a V- shapedload-carrying cradle; a finger extending inwardly from the upper end ofthe link; a recess arranged within the head to receive the finger; anadjustable bridge arranged within the bifurcation to receive the leg ofthe link when the latter is closed, the adjustment of the bridgepermitting weight suspended from the cradle to be adjustably distributedthrough the finger and through the arm to the head; and link lockingmeans wholly recessed within the rigid arm, such means having a lipextending within the bifurcation and protected by the side wallsthereof.

3. In oil field hook equipment, a hook head, having an opening therein;a substantially vertically disposed hook arm rigidly depending from saidhead; a bifurcated lateral extension from said arm, extending firstdownwardly and then upwardly; a link member pivotally mounted within thebifurcation, such member having a laterally inclined leg provided withan upper face, such face being above and substantially parallel to theupper face of the said upward extension of the arm when the link isclosed, and the downward extension of the arm and the inclined legforming a V-shaped load-carrying cradle; a finger extending inwardlyfrom the upper end of the link; a recess arranged within the head toreceive the finger; an adjustable bridge arranged within the bifurcationto receive the leg of the link when the latter is closed, the adjustmentof the bridge permitting weight suspended from the cradle to beadjustably distributed through the finger and through the arm to thehead; link locking means wholly recessed within the rigid arm, suchmeans having a lip extending within the bifurcation and protected by thesaid walls thereof; a spindle bolt fixedly carried in said opening inthe hook head and extending thereabove, such bolt terminating in a bolthead provided with spaced recesses in its peripheral face; a removablecollar surrounding the bolt head, whereby it may be rotatably supported;and a releasable latch recessively carried within the collar, the latchbeing provided with a plunger extendable into any selected recess in thebolt head, whereby the bolt may be locked against rotation.

4. In oil field hook equipment, a hook head, having an opening therein;a substantially vertically disposed hook arm rigidly depending from saidhead; a bifurcated lateral extension from said arm, extending firstdownwardly and then upwardly; a link member pivotally mounted within thebifurcation, such member having a laterally inclined leg provided withan upper face, such face being above and substantially parallel to theupper face of the said upward extension of the arm when the link isclosed, and the downward extension of the arm and the inclined legforming a V-shaped load-carrying cradle; a finger extending inwardlyfrom the upper end of the link; a recess arranged within the head toreceive the finger; an adjustable bridge arranged within the bifurcationto receive the leg of the link when the latter is closed, the adjustmentof the bridge permitting weight suspended from the cradle to beadjustably distributed through the finger and through the arm to thehead; link locking means wholly recessed within the rigid arm, suchmeans having a lip extending within the bifurcation and protected by thesaid Walls thereof; a spindle bolt fixedly carried in said opening inthe hook head and extending thereabove, such bolt terminating in a bolthead provided with spaced recesses in its peripheral face; a removablecollar surrounding the bolt head, whereby it may be rotatably supported;a releasable latch recessively carried within the collar, the latchbeing provided with a plunger extendable into any selected recess in thebolt head, whereby the bolt may be locked against rotation; and a thrustbearing supporting the head of the spindle bolt within the collar.

RAYMOND G. TAYLOR, JR. ARTHUR B. MCELROY. ROY C. DAVIS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 294,704 Wall Mar. 4, 1884 377,559 Hitchcock Feb. 7, 1883479,026 Smeal July 19, 1892 776,558 Sjoberg Dec. 6, 1904 778,776 EberleDec. 27, 1904 878,060 Hammond Feb. 4, 1908 1,541,991 Moddy et al June16, 1925 1,637,699 Lauterbach Aug. 2, 1927 2,100,779 Hertel Nov. 30,1937 2,271,335 Geiger Jan. 27, 1942 2,272,826 Bardsley Feb. 10, 19422,276,628 Quilter Mar. 17, 1942 2,323,326 Hertel July 6, 1943 2,559,999Regan July 10, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 1,058 GreatBritain May 10, 1855

